Water Wheel May/June 2022: Covid-19 And The Environment

Abstract

An ounce of prevention trumps a pound of cure and a little handwashing goes a long way to slowing the spread of infectious disease. It’s true of the common cold and it’s true of COVID-19. But what’s inside all those sanitisers and disinfectants flooding the market, that we’ve been using so liberally in our homes, offices and public spaces? How much is getting into the environment? What are the likely consequences for natural systems and public health? And what should be done to remedy matters? These are not really new concerns. It’s been established for some time that concentrations of some chemicals used in sanitisers and disinfectants are high in the environment, but levels have likely spiked since the onset of the pandemic. Chemical pollution of all kinds is a global phenomenon. It’s responsible for an estimated 9 million deaths worldwide every year and scientists have shown how it finds its way into practically everything.

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